Baseball batting practice device



June 17, 1958 D. L. BLAHA ETAL 2,839,300

BASEBALL BATTING PRACTICE DEVICE Filed Jan. 20, 1956 INVENTORS DONALDLOU/S BLAHA KEITH FRED/PICK MAINLAND A 7' TORI'VE Y Unitcd States PatentBASEBALL BATTING PRACTICE DEVICE Donald Louis Blalia, Berwyn, Ill., andKeith Fredrick Mainland, Falls Church, Va.; said Mainland assignor v to'Albert Giusfredi, Riverside, Ill.

Application January 20, 1956, Serial No. 560,421

6 Claims. (Cl. 27326) Our invention relates to a device for baseballbatting practice in a confined space which can be utilized by a singleplayer without assistance.

Although many of the good hitters in baseball have different stances anddifferent theories of batting, they all have several attributes incommon. They all have strong wrists and well-developed arms andshoulders. They all have developed quick, muscular reflex actions.Although many top hitters have unorthodox stances, they all have aneasy, fluid swing with proper foot and hip movement. All good hittersmust train themselves to keep their eyes on the ball as it approachesthe plate. Probably the most important attribute of all for a goodhitter is proper timing. It is only through a highly developed sense oftiming that a hitter can swing the bat to meet the ball at the precisemoment for the maximum effect. Also, it is only through proper timingthat a batter can place his hits efiectively.

These attributes of a good hitter can be attained only through regularand consistent batting practice. It is true that there are manyexercises that a player can perform to develop some of these attributes,but it is only through regular hitting that all the attributes will bedeveloped to the state required for good batting ability.

Generally, in order to practice batting, a large field is required. Inaddition, a pitcher, catcher or backstop, and several outfielders areneeded in order that one man may practice hitting. Thus five or sixplayers are engaged in giving one man batting practice. Obviously, thetime each man can spend at bat is limited. In addition, practice can becarried on only during clement weather and, in many parts of thecountry, only during the summer months.

The device of the present invention permits an individual player,unassisted by others, to practice batting in a confined space. Thedevice can be set up in the house, if desired, and thus can be used allyear around. In brief, a flexible material is suspended on an uprightframe to form a vertical surface. An arm extends from the upper part ofthe frame forwardly of the vertical surface. A baseball is suspendedvertically by a flexible nonstretchable cord from the end of the arm andmay be adjusted to any desired height about the ground or floor.

The flexible material should be suspended from the frame to have someyieldability to the impact of the ball when it strikes the surface butnot in a manner to completely absorb the kinetic energy of the ball.Preferably the flexible material should be suspended from the topcross-bar of the upright frame and connected to the vertical side barsby ropes having some slack.

In practicing with the device of the present invention, the batter takesa normal stance adjacent the ball, oriented so that the vertical surfaceis in the direction the ball is to be hit. The batter swings and hitsthe ball, sending it towards the vertical surface in an arcuate pathdefined by the non-stretchable cord by which the ball is ice suspended.The ball Strikes the vertical surface and forms a slight pocket in theflexible material as that material yields under the initial impact ofthe ball. This slight pocket, or indentation in the flexible materialholds the ball on the surface at the point at which it strikes andprevents the ball from dissipating its kinetic energy by traveling orclimbing over the vertical surface. After initially yielding, theflexible surface becomes more taut as the slack in the ropes holding theflexible material to the vertical side bars is taken up. In the moretaut condition, the flexible material achieves a resiliency which causesthe ball to rebound back toward the batter, in the arcuate path definedby the non-stretchable cord.

In the meantime the batter may recover quickly from his initial swingand hit the ball again as it returns to him. Alternately, if he recoversfrom his initial swing more slowly, he may let the ball go by him andallow it to swing upwardly in an arc. The ball will swing back towardthe vertical surface, strike it, and again rebound toward the batter,although with less force than the initial rebound. The batter, at thistime, will be ready to take another swing at the ball.

The device is particularly adapted to use by a single player in playingpepper. When so used the batter chokes up on the and hits the ball witha short punching swing toward the vertical surface. As the ball reboundsthe batter punches the ball again.

Each of these different uses or" the device developes specificcharacteristics needed of a good hitter. When the batter takes a fullswing at the ball and recovers quickly to hit the ball again on thefirst rebound he will be developing the strength of his wrists,forearms, and body muscles used in pivoting his body for the swing. Onthe other hand, when the batter takes a full swing and recovers moreslowly to hit the ball on the second rebound he can practice a fluid,rhythmic swing and will soon develope a proper foot and body motion. Inthe pepper practice the batter will not only achieve practice in buntingbut will develop quick reflexes, eye training and timing.

In all uses of the device the ball, on successive hits, will strike thevertical surface in all different positions and hence the ball, on therebound, will simulate a variety of pitches.

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide adevice for baseball batting practice which may be used by a singleplayer unassisted.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a baseballbatting practice device which can be used in a restricted space.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a baseballbatting device which gives the batter practice hitting simulated pitchedballs of every type.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a baseballbatting device wherein the height of the simulated pitched ball isadjustable.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a devicewhich a single player can utilize to play pepper.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide abaseball batting practice device which will develop the batters muscles,reflexes, coordination and timing.

It is an additional object to provide a small, movable, inexpensivebatting practice device easy to manufacture and durable in construction.

The novel features which we believe to be characteristic of ourinvention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. Ourinvention itself, however, both as to its organization and method ofoperation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will bebest under- *ground or the floor in a home.

7 V 3 stood by reference to'the conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings in whichi Figure 1 is a perspective view of the batting deviceof and Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form ofthe present invention.

The baseball batting practice device of the present invention is shownin Figure 1. A vertical frame, shown generally at 10, is supported on ahorizontal base.

' frame and base are constructed of metallic tubing or pipe.

The base consists of two horizontal base bars 12 and 14 extendingrearwardly from either end of the frame 19 and joining at a point toform a V-shaped construction. The

base may rest on any horizontal surface such as the The two base barsare joined at their forward euds, by fittings Hand 26, to two verticalbars 20 and 24, which form the sides of the vet-rical frame 10. The twovertical bars 20 and 24 which form the sides of the upright frame areconnected to a horizontal top bar 28 by fittings 30 and 32. A diagonalbar 34 extends from the mid point of the horizontal top bar 28,downwardly to the junction of the two horizontal base bars 12 and 14.The diagonal is rigidly attached to the base section by fitting 36 whichalso receives the two horizontal base bars. The diagonal is secured tothe hori- V zontal top bar by fitting 39.

The fittings 22, 26, 3G, 32, 36 and 39 slideably receive the bars whichthey join and have no internal threads. The bars are held securely inthe fittings by set screws threadedly engaged in the fittings as shownin Figure 1.

An arm 50 extends forwardly from the mid point of the top horizontal bar28, perpendicular to that bar. The arm 50 is connected to bar 23 byfitting 49 which straddles the fitting 39 as shown in Figure 2. Thefitting 40 has a sleeve 40a which slideably receives the arm 50. Twowebs 40!), connected at one end to opposite sides of sleeve 40a, areconnected at their other ends to two sleeves 40c respectively. The twosleeves 400 which are spaced from each other are axiallyaligned,-perpendicular to the alignment; of sleeve 40a. The sleeves 40cslideably receive horizontal top bar 28 on either side of fitting 39 asshown in Figures 2 and 3. Each of the sleeves 40a and 40c have setscrews to secure the respective bars in engagement with the fittings;Since the fitting 40 may be rotated in relation to the toprhorizontalbar 28 the bar 50 may be adjusted to any desired angle.

The arm it) is made of hollow metal tubing or pipe and carries inside aflexible non-stretchable cord 52. The cord is attached, at one end, to aT-shaped fitting 38 fastened to' the upper side of the diagonal bar 34as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The cord 52 suspends from the for ward endof arm 50 and is attached to a ball 54, which may be a regulation leaguehard ball.

The'fiexible material 41, which preferably is canvas,

is carried in the vertical frame 10 as shown in Figure 1. At the upperedge of the material is a plurality of holes 42 reinforced by grommets44." A cord 46 is wound around the top horizontal bar 28 and through theholes 42, as shown in Figures 1 and 3. Adjacent its lower edge, whichisa short distance above the ground or floor, the flexible-material hastwo holes 48, each spaced close to one side edge of the material. A cord49 is tied at oneend through hole 48 and at the other end is tied tovertical side bars 20 and 24, respectively, as shown in Figure 1. Thecord 49 should be long enough to have some'slack when the flexiblematerial 41 is hanging in a common plane with the vertical frame 10;

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 4; In thisembodiment, the horizontal base bars 112 following description taken and114 are connected to two vertical bars 120Jand124 similar to theconstruction" of Figure 'Al'so,,diag6nal The somewhat taut condition.;-

embodiment, however, the top horizontal bar 128extendsbeyondthe'vertical bars and curves in' a forwardly' direo;

tion as shown in Figure 6. A U-shaped member;.144

is connected to each vertical'bar and extends forwardly and outwardly inthe sameplane as the curved extension on the top horizontal bar- 128 asshown in Figure"4.j The flexible material141 is connected to the tophorizontal bar 123 in the same fashion as in the construction of Figurel. The flexiblemater ial is not connectedto the vertical bars 120 and124 but has a plurality of weights 149 suspended from its lower edge. tohold the material 141 in The vertical surface of the present inventionshould not be hard and unyielding. It is evident that such a surfacewould damage theball -and,i in a short timerren'derit unsuitable foruse. Additionally when a ball is travelling '1. in an arcttate path ittends to climb or travel over a hard'surface when it. strikes thatsurface. This dissi5 pates much of'the kinetic energy ofthe ball andresults inan unsatisfactory rebound. When'the surface hassomeyieldability a slight pocket or indentation will form "at the point theball strikes the surface and the ball will be prevented from travelingover the surface. I

While the vertical surface-should not be hard'itis desirable that theball, when struck, should rebound from the surface with more speedthanresults from'the'for'ce of gravity acting on the pendulous ball. in theconstruction of Figure'l the cord-49 permitsthe flexible mate- V rial 41to yield only a limited distance before the slack is taken up and thematerial becomes taut and conseimpact of theballit becomes more taut andhence more resilient. Additionally the weighted material picks uppotential energy as the ball deflectsit, which energy is returned to theball after its rearward motion is stopped,

to cause it to rebound. I i g Before use the balls 54 and 154 may beadjusted to any desired position in relation to the ground or floor andin relation to the vertical surface. The adjustment ofthe distance ofthe ball from the vertical surface is achieved by adjusting the angle ofthe arm 50, or arm 150T The height of the ball above the ground or flooris achieved "by winding or unwinding the cord 52 around the T fitting IIn using the baseball batting practice device, the batter assumes hisnormal stance adjacent the, suspended ball 54 or 154. The batter isoriented so that a ball struck properly will travel toward the verticalsurface defined by material 41 or 141. The batter takes his normal swingat the ball, hitting it toward the vertical surface. After his swing,the batter brings thebat back to a position ready to swing again. In themeantime, the ball strikes the vertical surface and rebounds toward thebatter; By this time, the batter has recovered fromhis initial swing andis ready to strike the ball again. When the ball has returned to theposition adjacent the batter, the batter strikes it again toward thevertical surface and the operation is repeated.

Alternately, the batter may recover from his initial swing more slowlyand allow the ball to swing pasthis position in an arc defined by theflexible non-stretchable cord 52 or 152. The ball will swing back-tothe'vertical surface and again rebound toward the batter. The batterhits the ball and the cycle is repeated. A hitter may also. play pepperbychoking his bat and punching the ball-toward thev vertical surface 41or 141. When the device is so used the ball may be initially set closeto the surface 41 or 141. Each rebound is again punched or tapped backto the surface.

The flexible non-stretchable cord 52 or serves to define the path oftravel of the ball 54 or 154. it provents the ball from rebounding toolow to be hit by the batter. it should be noted that the velocity of theball as it returns to the batter is greater than that which would beachieved by the force of gravity acting on a pendulous body. Some of thekinetic energy of the bail travelling from the hitters bat is absorbedby vertical surface and returned to the ball for its travel back to thehitter. This causes the ball to simulate an actual pitched ball. Sincethe ball, when it is originally struck, may hit on any part of thecanvas, the ball may be returned to the hitter from a variety of pointsto simulate different types of pitches. In addition, by adjusting theheight of the ball 54 or 154 the batter may practice on low or highballs as he may desire.

While we have shown and described specific embodiments of the presentinvention, it will of course be evident that various modifications andalternative constructions may be made without departing from the truespirit and scope thereof. We therefore intend by the appended claims tocover all such modifications and alternative constructions as comewithin their true spirit and scope.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

1. A device resting on a horizontal surface for baseball battingpractice in a restricted space, the device comprising in combination: avertically upstanding frame having a top horizontal bar, two verticalbars, and a plurality of base horizontal bars extending rearwardly ofthe vertical bars; a flexible material suspended from the top horizontalbar and held by slack non-stretchable means between the vertical framebars to form a surface which is yieldable from a position in thevertical frame to a taut position; an adjustably fixed arm attached tothe top horizontal bar extending forwardly; a ball; and a flexiblenon-stretchable cord depending in spaced relation to the frame from apoint on the arm and connected at its lower end to the ball, the lengthof the cord being at least as great as the length of the arm between thetop bar and said point and less than the vertical distance from thepoint on the arm to the horizontal surface and less than the distancefrom the point on the arm to any point on the bottom edge of the surfaceof flexible material, whereby the-cord will guide the ball in a pathinto contact with the surface of flexible material when the ball isproperly struck toward said surface and will guide the ball back alongsaid path as it rebounds from said surface of flexible material.

2. A device resting on a horizontal surface for baseball battingpractice in a restricted space, the device comprising in combination: avertically upstanding frame having a top horizontal bar and two verticalbars; a flexible material held between the bars of the frame to form avertical surface; a flexible non-stretchable cord; a ball connected toone end of said cord; and adjustable fixed means attached to the frameto receive the other end of said cord and sustain the ball above thehorizontal surface spaced from the vertical surface a distance withinthe reach of said cord to permit contact of said ball with the verticalsurface as the ball is struck towards that surface.

3. A device resting on a horizontal surface for baseball battingpractice in a restricted space, the device comprising in combination: aframe having a top horizontal bar curved forwardly at either end; asurface defined by flexible material having weights at its bottom edgesuspended from said top horizontal bar and extending to the ends of saidbar to drape in accordance with the curved ends of the bar; a flexiblenon-stretchable cord; a ball connected to one end of said cord; andadjustable fixed means attached to the frame to receive the other end ofsaid cord and sustain the ball above the horizontal surface spaced fromthe surface of flexible material a distance within the reach of saidcord to permit Contact of said ball with the latter surface as the ballis struck towards that surface.

4. A device resting on a horizontal surface for baseball battingpractice in a restricted space, the device comprising in combination: anupstanding vertical frame having a horizontal top bar and two verticalside bars; a flexible material suspended from the top bar of the frame,the flexible material having weight connected to the bottom edge to forma vertical surface; a flexible non-stretchable cord; a ball connected toone end of said cord; and adjustable fixed means attached to the frameto receive the other end of said cord and sustain the ball above thehorizontal surface spaced from the vertical surface a distance withinthe reach of said cord to permit contact of said ball with the lattersurface as the ball is struck towards that surface.

5. A device for baseball batting practice on a horizontal surface in arestricted space, the device comprising: an upstanding frame; a ball; aflexible material impervious to passage of the ball therethrough held inthe frame to form a vertical surface having some resiliency; a flexiblecord connected at one end to the ball; and adjustable fixed means toreceive the other end of said cord and sustain the ball above thehorizontal surface in an initial position spaced from the verticalsurface a distance within the reach of said cord, whereby the ball, whenhit towards the vertical surface, strikes that surface and rebounds tosubstantially its initial position where it may be hit again.

6. A device resting on a plane surface for baseball batting practice ina restricted space, the device comprising in combination: a frame; aball; an upwardly extending surface of flexible material impervious tothe passage of a ball therethrough and carried by the frame; a flexiblenon-stretchable cord connected at one end to the ball; and means tosustain the other end of said cord and hold the ball above the planesurface spaced from said surface of flexible material a distance withinthe reach of said cord.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS536,176 Austin et al Mar. 26, 1895 903,679 Courtney Nov. 10, 19081,127,279 Ramsey Feb. 2, 1915 1,879,316 Kleb Sept. 27, 1932 2,017,720Lake Oct. 15, 1935 2,060,817 Mahoney Nov. 17, 1936 2,082,018 Atwell June8, 1937 2,331,236 Schaefer Oct. 5, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,989 GreatBritain Ian. 26, 1911 333,591 Great Britain Aug. 18, 1930 733,543 FranceMar. 15, 1932 486,880 Great Britain June 13, 1938 489,842 Great BritainAug. 4, 1938 955,553 France June 27, 1949

